Ebola and the Sin of Adam

Romans 5:12: “Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-”

In the last several weeks, our nation’s attention has been focused on Ebola. We are not sure how it spreads or how to stop it. We are told that if a vaccine is developed it is at least a year away. Think of how much trouble one person with Ebola caused. Recently in Dallas, one man, Thomas Eric Duncan arrived from Liberia and infected at least two nurses that we know of in the hospital. Others have been quarantined for possible infection. This past weekend a Carnival cruise ship was refused to disembark passengers in Belize and Cozumel because one passenger had contact with a vial of his blood and was in quarantine. One of the nurses who treated him flew on a plane from Dallas to Cleveland. As a result all on the plane going and coming were contacted for possible exposure to Ebola.

Think of the hysteria that one man can cause. The Scriptures tell us the same thing about the sin of one man, Adam. The results of his sin affect all mankind. Because of his one sin, men are filled with unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil mindedness, they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventers of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only to do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:29-32).

Because of one man’s sin we have had countless wars, violence in our streets, countless thefts and murders of innocent people.

The sin of one man has also affected creation. Romans 8:20-22: “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected in hope, because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

What Paul is telling us is the reason we have hurricanes, volcanoes, tornados and other natural disasters. It is rooted in the sin of Adam. Look at all the trouble from the loss of life to the loss of property that natural disasters leave in their wake. Also because of one man’s sin, there are diseases in the world such as Ebola. Think of all the plagues that have taken the lives of millions of people over the centuries.

The scripture paints a very bleak picture of the horrors of human sin but the antidote to the sin of one man is the sinlessness of the God man. Romans 5:15 says: “…for if by one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ abounded to the many.”

This is what gave the angels such great joy in announcing to Joseph that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Then the angel said: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21) [emphasis mine]. This one man Jesus is the only one who can deliver us from the plague of sin. We who have been healed by His shed blood can thank God for the provision of His great salvation and pray for opportunities to tell others of the tremendous hope of the Gospel.